SC emergency official: Irene forecasts spot on

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - There were no evacuations and only minor problems as Hurricane Irene brushed South Carolina over the weekend.

Emergency Management Division spokesman Joe Farmer says officials knew early on there would be no need for a coastal evacuation because of highly accurate track forecasts from the National Hurricane Center.

The storm caused some beach erosion and cut power for a bit but caused no major problems.

Farmer says officials are always concerned that a brush with a storm that doesn't do much damage might cause some complacency the next time around.

Farmer says although Irene just brushed the state the next storm could hit. He says people need to always monitor storms that could head toward South Carolina.